Method for the hygienic preparation of medical instruments

Abstract

A method for cleaning medical instruments including dental instruments having internal channels and internal moving parts comprises cleaning the external surface and internal channels and parts by a jet of cold water followed by a jet of preheated water, then intensely after-cleaning and disinfecting followed by lubricating the moving parts, then sterilizing and drying and cooling.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for hygienical preparation of medical instruments including dental instruments having media channels, dental instruments without media channels and dental instruments with movable internal parts, said method comprising the step of loading the instruments into a chamber, which is then closed pressure-tight; while in the chamber, performing the steps of cleaning exterior surfaces of each of the instruments as well as any existing media channels by directing a high-energy water jet onto the exterior surfaces of the instruments and into the existing channels, said high-energy jet being, first, a cold water jet and then subsequently using a jet with a preheated water; intensely after-cleaning and disinfecting the exterior surfaces and any existing media channels as well as any movable internal parts and bearings of an instrument by directing a water stream having a temperature range of 60° C. to 100° C. onto the exterior surfaces, through any existing media channel and through the movable internal parts and bearings; lubricating existing movable parts by injecting a metered quantity of lubricant; sterilizing the instrument on the exterior surfaces and in any media channels and movable parts with saturated steam of a temperature of approximately 134° C.; then drying and cooling the instrument with a coolant. 
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, which includes subsequent to the step of intensive after-cleaning and disinfecting and prior to the step of lubricating, conducting an intermediate drying with a coolant. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of injecting a lubricant occurs with an oil/air mixture. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the quantity to oil is automatically selected dependent on the instrument being involved. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 3, wherein the quantity of oil lies in a range of between 0.1 and 2 grams per instrument per injection cycle. 
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of drying and cooling occurs with compressed air. 
     
     
       7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the treatment space is evacuated before the step of sterilizing. 
     
     
       8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of drying is supported by creating a vacuum in the chamber. 
     
     
       9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method lasts in a range of 10-20 minutes, wherein the individual step of cleaning takes approximately 3 minutes, the steps of intensively after-cleaning and disinfecting takes approximately 2 minutes, the step of lubricating takes approximately one-half of a minute, the step of sterilizing the instrument takes approximately 6.5 minutes and the step of drying and cooling takes approximately 3 minutes. 
     
     
       10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of cleaning includes providing a high-energy water jet by providing water under pressure with a gas supplied surge-like to said water. 
     
     
       11. A method according to claim 10, wherein a pulse frequency of the surge-like delivery of gas amounts to in a range between 1 Hz and 10 Hz. 
     
     
       12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the pulse frequency is 3 Hz. 
     
     
       13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of loading instruments loads more than one instrument and the steps of cleaning, intensive after-cleaning and disinfecting, and lubricating occur in a chronological succession for each instrument separately having media channels and movable internal parts. 
     
     
       14. A method according to claim 1, which includes interrupting the sequence of steps after the step of lubricating. 
     
     
       15. A method for hygienic preparation of medical, including dental, instruments with or without media channels and with or without movable internal parts, said method comprising the steps of inserting the instruments with at least one instrument having internal channels and movable interior parts into a closed pressure-tight chamber, and, while in the chamber, performing a sequence of preselectible processes including cleaning the exterior surfaces of all instruments as well as media channels of the instruments having media channels by directing a cold water jet onto the exterior surfaces of the instruments and through those media channels, subsequently directing a high-energy jet of preheated water onto the exterior surfaces and through those channels; intensive after-cleaning and disinfecting of the exterior surfaces and the immediate channels as well as movable internal parts and their bearings by blowing water at a temperature range of 60° C. to 100° C. on the exterior surfaces, through said channels and through said moving parts and bearings; lubricating for the movable internal parts by injecting a metered quantity of lubricant therein, and then drying and cooling the instrument with a coolant.